Favre in Purple

Following months of speculation and what seemed to be an official continuation of farm life, Brett Favre shocked (some of) the sporting world today. After passing a physical, Favre, according to sources of the Trib's Judd Zulgad, inked a two-year contract paying the quarterback $12 this season with an option for another $13 mil next year. To watch video of Favre signing the deal, please click here. The Trib report went on to note that Favre will start the Vikings' next preseason game versus the Kansas City Chiefs this Friday at the Metrodome.

At his 5:45 p.m. introductory press conference Favre -- kinda looking like he had crawled out of a Mississippi mudhole -- employed the wide swath of tenets and traits that have made him both one of the most popular and polarizing figures in all of modern-day sport, among them: Americana, narcissism, schmaltz, strategy, heart, soul, misdirection, and down home charm. To see video of the press conference, please click here.

In a press release earlier today, Coach Brad Childress said:

"We believe adding a player such as Brett Favre to our mix will be a strong positive for this football team. As we have conveyed before, his unique knowledge of our system, the NFC North and his innate skills make this a rare opportunity. We felt there was a brief window to reconsider the possibility and we owed it to the organization to evaluate our options. After thorough discussion, the same variables that made this a unique and positive situation previously, still exist. Now, our attention turns to getting to work as a team, our next practice and preparing for the season."

Favre will turn 40 in October, and is the NFL's all-time leader in passing yards, attempts, touchdowns and interceptions, among other categories. He also owns the record for most consecutive games started by a quarterback at 269 (291 including playoffs).

season that began swimming at 8-3, the team lost four of its last five games and missed the playoffs. Favre ultimately was named to the Pro Bowl despite tossing for just two TD's and nine interceptions in the Jets' final five games.

While undergoing arthroscopic shoulder surgery in May, the famed Dr. James Andrews noted that Favre had a slight tear in the rotator cuff of his throwing arm. A source told ESPN's Ed Werber that:

"The tear is still there and there's always a possibility something could happen with it later on. He wanted to give it the best chance he could before he made a commitment. But the last three weeks, it hasn't gotten any worse and he's been working hard. Hell, who knows? It could flare up again if they make him throw 50 or 60 balls a day."

Led by the NFL's leading rusher in Adrian Peterson, the Vikings appeared to be one of the NFC's more talented teams sans Favre; however, starting quarterback options Tarvaris Jackson and Sage Rosenfels sport just 16 combined wins as starters, and both have been banged up slightly during the preseason.

Favre appeared in practice today donning a red #4 practice jersey with his Vikings helmet. To see some Trib footage of the practice, please click here.

The Vikings open the season September 13th at Cleveland. On October 5th, the Green Bay Packers come to town for Monday Night Football.

Given this entire saga, Favre's age, injury, Packer background, and potential to take touches away from Peterson -- the signing will prove to be one of the most polarizing moves in the history of Minnesota sport. Unless, of course, we win, and win big.